Refrigerator car



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` REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed April 7, .1945 e sheets-sheet 4 Nov. 5, 1946. H. w. KLElsT REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed April 7, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 [rave-afar' fermavz WZezLS Nov. 5, 1946. H. w. KLElsT v 2,410,449

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed April 7, 1943 eshee-as-sheet e .Herman y f yfore used have not been Patented Nov. 5, 1946 FFICE' A REFRIGERATOR CAR( l Herman W. Kleist, Chicago, Ill., Application April 7, 1943, Serial No.` 482,097

l This invention relates to refrigerator cars and has for its object to provide a new'and improved device of this description. I

'The invention has as a further object to provide a refrigerator car which will be eilicient in operation, can be operated at a low cost, and which shall have a. comparatively low first cost. The invention has as a further object to provide a mechanical refrigerated car which is cooled by vacuum plates built into the car, and which are supplied by means of a refrigerating apparatus on the car operated by a suitable motor or enginer or by connection with the car action. The mechanical refrigerator cars heretocommercially successful because of the excessive weight, rst high cost of the equipment, and the high cost and unreliability of the operation of the refrigerating claims. (c1.v 654-102) -Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6. A

apparatus, and also the great amounimof space f taken up by such apparatus.

The present invention has for itsA object to provide an efficient mechanical refrigerator car which willbe free from these objections.-

'I'he invention has as a further object to provide a mechanical refrigerator car cooled by vacuum plates with an air .moving device which draws the air through a space betweenthe plates and directs it along the upper part of the ear so that it will be diffused throughout the car. This air, after passing through the car, passes back again through the vacuum plates so as to be again cooled. p

The invention has as a further object to provide a refrigerator car provided with vacuum plates with an air moving device for movingthe air cooled by these throughout the car,

plates so as to distribute it with a refrigerant liquefying g apparatus for supplying the lrefrigerant to the plates consisting of a compressor, condenser and receiver. The refrigerant passes to a multiexpansion valve and through this Valve to theV various plates and then' back to the compressor.

The invention has further objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken on line I--I of Fig'. 2, showing one form of invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectionalv view throughthe heat exchanger located in the circuit.

Fig. 4 is a' sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the staggered line 6 6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l-'l`A of Fig. 6. e

5 is withdrawn. During this l' moves away from itsseat 2 'these spaces connecting vand lower walls 8 and 9,

tight. Each sheet i over edge I4 Like numerals refer to` like parts throughout' the several figures.

For purposes of illustration I have shown in the drawings a, car having an outer surrounding wall I andan inner surrounding wall 2, these walls being separated by spaces filled with heat insulating material 3. The oor of the car is preferably provided with a series of separated members 4, ywhich are-separated by spaces 5,

with a longitudinal passageway 6, which extends along under the members 4 and which connects with a passageway 'l which passes up along one end of the car-and through which air passes tothe cooling device. This cooling device is enclosed in an enclosing device which is provided with inclined upper v and which connects with the vertical passageway 1. Mounted within this enclosing device are a series of cooling elements which are preferably plates, each made upl of two sheets II and l2 of heat conducting material with a space between them in which the refrigerant material is located so as to cool the plates. These plates have smooth exterior surfaces. kI prefer to use vacuum plates each with ya pipe I3 coiled' back and forth in the space between the sheets, shown in detail in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. These sheets are connected together with a hermetically sealed connection so as to be air II is vprovided with a bent- 'which has a sealed connection to the sheet I2, and each sheet I2 has a projecting part I5l which projects outwardly from the bent portion i4 at least at two opposite extremities although it may project outwardly all the way around the sheet. The bent-over edge III may be hermeticallyv fastened to the sheet I2 in any desired manner, as by welding I6. Means are provided for withdrawingv air from vthe interior of the plates I0. One arrangement for this purpose is shown in Fig. 8 wherein there is a 20 in the'section I 9. An air withdrawing device is attached to the portion of the plug projecting from the plate and the desired amount of air process the valve 20 I. When the withdrawalof air ceases this valve lis moved onto its seat by the pressure of exterior air. A closing member 22 isthen inserted into the plug and may be sealed by welding. or soldering or in any'Qther desired manner.

The plates may Y air move upwardly into contact with as to secure a tight heat exchange contact between thesheets II and I2 and the pipe I3. When the hold-over plate is used this eutectic is frozen and acts as a cooling agent for a considerable time after the refrigerant material has ceased toow through the pipe I3. The plates I may be supported and arranged inthe enclosing device at the end of the car in any suitable manner. These platesfmay be arranged in a horizontal or vertical position and may be parallel to the roof of the car or inclined with relation thereto.

In Figs. 2, 4 and 5 I have shown one particular way of arranging and supporting these plates I3. In this construction the plates are shown with their fiat faces extending in a generally horizontal direction, the plates,` however, being inclined with their edges nearest the end of the car lower than their edges farthest from the end of the car. There are a series of supporting members 24 which are provided with a series of notchesA 25. The projecting edges I5 of the plates fit into these notches, as clearly shown in Fig. '1. vFastening devices 26 pass through the supporting devices 24 and bind them together so as to hold the plates rigidly in position. K These fastening devices may be of any suitable form, and as herein shown consist of rods threaded at their ends with nuts 21 on the threaded ends which are tightened up to bind the plates in position.

The supporting fastening members rods 2B and nuts devices are fastened to the 28 by means of the threaded 21. The fastening members 23at one end of the set of plates are fastened in position by the bolts 29 and the nuts 30. Fastening members 23 at the opposite end are secured by bolts 60 to the angle supports 6I connected with the ceiling 62 of the car. Associated with the plates I0 are one or more air-moving devices 3I. These air-moving devices are placed in front of the plates, and instead of forcing the air between the plates, they draw the air through such plates. These air-moving vdevices are. actuated by the motors 32, suitably mounted in position upon the supports 33 and 34, which are attached to the frame 35. There is preferably a screen 36 in front of the air-moving devices 3l, through which the air ispassed. The air is cooled by being drawn in between these several plates and in contact therewith, and is then forced outwardly and into contact with lthe ceiling of the car, and thus is distributed throughout the car. The fact that the plates l0 are inclined, as shown in Fig. 4, assists greatly in having this the ceiling of the car. Some suitable means is provided for supplying the plates I0 with a suitable refrigerant and passing it through the coils I3. As herein shown, there is a refrigerating apparatus on the car, provided with the compressor 31, with some suitable motor for operating it, such as the motor 33, which maybe a Diesel engine.

Compressor 31 is connected with the condenser 39 and the receiver 40. 3

A connection 4I leads from the receiver 40 to a heat exchanger 42 (see Fig. 9). This ,heat

certain predetermined temperature,

exchanger is connected by a pipe 43 with a strainer 44. The strainer is connected by a pipe 45 with an expansion valve 46. A series of pipes 41 connect the expansion valve with the several plates I0, and by thismeans a more uniform temperature is secured in all of the plates. The refrigerant then passes through the coils in these plates and passes out of the plates through the connections 48 to the common pipe or header 49. This header is connected by a pipe 50 .with the heat exchanger 42 (see Fig. 3). A pipe 5I leads from the heat exchanger back to the compressor. Connected with the pipe 5I is a tee 52 in which is located a bulb 53. This bulb controls, that is, opens and closes, the expansion valve by the usual means consisting of the pipe 54. When the refrigerant returning from the plates I0 rises above a certain temperature, this bulb causes the expansion valve to open and admit the refrigerant to the coils in the plates I0, and when the temperature of this refrigerant falls below a the bulb causes the expansion valve to close and shut off the refrigerant from the coils in the plates l0. It will thus be seen that the temperature in the car is automatically controlled.

As before stated, the cooled air is preferably thrown up against the ceiling and is then deflected and distributed throughout the car. The air-moving devices may be arranged at different angles so as to cause the cooled air to strike the ceiling of the car at different points therealong and be deflected to secure a more uniform cooling throughout the car. This cooled air, after absorbing heat from the articles to be cooled in the car, passes through the spaces 5 between the separated members 4 of the floor and into the passageway 6 and the suction of the air-moving devices moves this air up through the passageway 1 and again into contact with the plates Il! where it is cooled and sent back into the car.

One form of heat exchanger is shown in Fig. 3 wherein there is a casing 42 which has end pieces 5B and 51. The refrigerant passing through pipe .4I passes througha coil 58 in the heat exchanger and thence to the strainer. The refrigerant relthe fan 3| are mounted is preferably hinged as shown in Fig. 4, so that it can be moved to expose the motor and fan for inspection and repair. f desired, the pin of the hinge may be removed so that the entire member 35, together with the motor and the fan, may be removed-to the shop for repair orreplaced by a new one.

The use and operation or my invention are as follows. When the parts are assembled and it is desired to cool the interior of the car, the motor is set-in operation and the refrigerant is forced by the compressor 31 through the condenser 39, receiver 40, pipe 4I and through the coil 58 in the heat exchanger 42 to the strainer 44, and thence into the expansion valve 46. The refrigerant then passes through the several pipes 41 from the expension valve to the coils in the different plates I0, wherein it cools the air in contact with the plates. The refrigerant then passes out of the pipe 48 into the header 49, and thence by pipe 50 through the casing of the heat exchanger 42 in kcontact with the coil therein, and thence by pipe 5| bacli to the compressor. This causes the plates I to be cooled and the air-moving devices 3| actuated by the motors 32 draw the air through the spaces between the plates Ill. This air is cooled by the plates and the cooled air is then directed into the interior of the car. This cooled air is distributed throughout the interior of the car and absorbs heat from the material therein which is to be cooled, and then passes through the spaces between the members 4 of the floor and is drawn up through the passageway 1 by the air-moving devices and brought into contact with the plates I0 and again sent out into the interior of the car.

I have shown one means of controlling the temperature in the car by means of the bulb 53 and the expansion valve 4B. When a Diesel engine, for example, is used, the temperature may be controlled by starting and stopping the Diesel engine automatically responsive Lto the temperature in the interior of the car. Any of the Diesel engine automatic control means produced by any of the Diesel engine companies may be used for this purpose. With such a controlling device the temperature controlled element is placed at a suitable position, and when the temperature in the car falls below a predetermined point the engine is automatically shut olf, and when the temperature in the car rises above a predetermined point, the

engine is automatically started. It is, of course,

evident that' an electric motor or any other form of motor may be used. The particular type or form of motor may be changed or altered to suit the conditions presented.

I claim: y

1. A refrigerator car comprising a, car body having a ceiling, a plurality of vacuum plates arranged in the interior of the car near the ceiling and separated one from another by spacers,

said vacuum plates being arranged one above theV other, and being inclined with the ends nearest the center of the car in higher horizontal planes than their other ends, means for supplying a refrigerant to said vacuum plates, an air-moving device in front of saidvacuum plates which draws the cooled air through the spaces between the inclined plates and directs such cooled air towards the ceiling of the car where it is deflected and distributed throughout the car to cool the material in the car.

2. A refrigerator car comprising a car body having a ceiling, a plurality of vacuum` plates arranged in the interior of the car near the ceiling and separated by spacers, an expansion valve associated with said vacuum plates, means for supplying a refrigerant to said expansion valve, a series of connections from said expansion valve to said vacuum plates, one for each plate, an airmoving device at one end of said plurality of vacuum plates moving the cooled air through the spaces between the vacuum plate for discharge into the interior of the car, a return pipe leading from said vacuum plates to the refrigerant source, a controlling bulb in said return pipe connected with said expansion valve for closing the expansion valve when the temperature reaches a predetermined low point.

3. A refrigerator car comprising a, car body having a ceiling; an enclosing devicev near one end of the car and having an air discharge outlet in proximity to the ceiling, opening toward the center of the car, a plurality of plates, each madev up of two separate sheets with a space between them into which the cooling material is received, arranged in said enclosing device onev above the other, and separated'by air spaces, supporting members with which said plates are connected, fastening members to which said supporting members are connected, an air-moving device in front of said .plates which draws cooled air through the spaces between them and discharges such air into the bodyv of the car, anda passageway leading from said enclosing device to a position near the bottom of the car and communicating with vthe space inside of the car near the bottom thereof.

4. A refrigerator car comprising a car body having a ceiling, an enclosing device near one end of the car and having anair discharge outlet in proximity to the ceiling, opening toward the center of the car, a plurality of plates, each made up of two separate sheets with a space between them into which the cooling material is received, arranged in said enclosing device one above the other, and separated by air spaces, one of said sheets of each plate having `projecting edges which project beyond the other sheet, supporting members at two opposite edges of said plates provided with notches into whichsaid projecting edges are received and fastening devices for holding the supporting members in place so as to hold said plates in their operative positions.

5. A refrigerator car comprising a car body having a ceiling, an renclosing device near one end of the car and having an air-discharge outlet in proximity to the ceiling, opening toward the center of the car, a plurality of plates, each made up of two separate sheets with a space between them into which the cooling material`is received, arranged in said enclosing device one above the other, and separated by air spaces, one of said sheets of each plate having projecting edges which project beyond the other sheet, supporting members into which said projecting edges are received and fastening devices for holding the supporting members in place so as to hold said plates in their operative positions, a plurality of air-moving devices in front of the edges 0fl said plates nearest to the interior of the car which draw air from between the plates, which has been cooled by the plates, through the spaces lbetween the plates.

having a ceiling, an enclosing device near one end of the car and having an air discharge outlet 4in proximity to the ceiling, opening toward the center o f the car, a, plurality of plates, each made up of two separate sheets with a space between them into which the cooling material is received, arranged in said enclosing device one above the other, and separated by air spaces, one of said sheets of each plate having projecting edges which project beyond the other sheet, supporting members at two Opposite edges of said plates provided with notches into which said projecting edges are received and fastening devices for holding the supporting members in place so as to hold said plates in their operative positions, a passageway leading from said enclosing device to a position near the bottom of the car and communicating with the space inside of the car near the bottom thereof, a plurality of air-moving devices in front of the edges of said plates nearest to the havingV a ceiling, an enclosing device near one end of the car and having an air discharge outlet in proximity to the ceiling, opening toward the center of the car, a plurality of plates, each made up of two separate sheets `with a space between them into which the cooling material is received, arranged in said enclosing device one above the other, and separated byairspaces, one` of said .sheets of each` plate' having projecting `edges which project beyond the other sheet,'supporting.

members at two opposite edgesl of said plates provided with notches into which said projecting edges are received andfastening devices for holding the supporting members in place soas to hold said plates in their'operative positions, a passageway leading from said enclosing device to a position vnear the bottom of the car` and communieating with the space vinside of the car near the p bottom thereof, a plurality of air-moving devices infront of the edges of said plates nearest to the interior of the car which draw air from between the plates which has been cooled by the plates, through the spaces between the plates, said plates being inclined so that the edgesthereof nearest .the air-,movingdevices are higher than the opposite edges,so that the air moved'between the plates by the air-moving devices will be directed against the ceiling of the car and deflected therefrom so as to be distributed throughout the car.

8. A refrigerator carcomprising a car body having aceiling, an enclosing device near one `above the other, and separatedby air spaces, a Asource of refrigerant supply, a connection there- `from to said plates, a vreturn connection from vthe plates back to'the refrigerant supply, a heat Vexchanger through which both of said connections lead.

9. A refrigerator car, comprising a car body having a ceiling and walls', and a cooling unit having an air discharge outlet adjacent said ceiling including aplurality of generally plane faced vacuum plates arranged in a group in the space for the lading and spaced apart to denne relatively restricted intermediate spaces, means for supplying a refrigerant to said vacuum plates, and air moving means adapted toA move relatively warm air from the interior of the car to the spaces betweenV the vacuum plates and to move the cooled air from the spaces between said vacuum plates back into the interior of the car.

10. A refrigerator car, comprisinga car body having a ceiling and walls, and a cooling unit vhaving an air discharge outlet adjacent said ceiling including a plurality of generally plane faced vacuum plates arranged ina group in the space for the lading and; spaced apart to define relatively-restricted intermediate spaces, means for supplying a refrigerant to said vacuum plates, and air moving means adapted to move relatively warm airv from the interior of the car to the spaces 'between the vacuum plates and to move the cooled air from the spaces between said vacuum plates back intotheinterior of the car, the opposed faces of adjacent plates being Vgenerally parallel, and freefrom'projections,

11. A refrigerator car, comprising a car body having aceiling and walls, anda'cooling unit mounted adjacent said ceiling,y including a plurality of generally plane faced vacuum plates arranged in a group in the interior of the car and spaced apart to define relatively restricted intermediate spaces, means for supplying a refrigerant to said vacuum plates, and air moving means adapted'to move relatively warm air from'the interior of the car to the spaces between the vacuum plates and to move the cooled air from the spaces between said vacuum plates back into the interior of the car, and a housing surrounding said group of plates, and having an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at the other end.

12. A refrigerator car, comprising a car body having a ceiling, walls and floor, and a cooling unit having an air discharge outlet adjacent said ceiling, including a plurality of generally plane faced vacuum plates arranged in a group in the interior of the car and spaced apart to define relatively restricted intermediate spaces, means for supplying a refrigerant to said vacuum plates, and air moving means adapted to move air from a lower level'within the car body to the spaces p between said vacuum plates and adapted to move the cooled-air from these spaces between said vacuum plates to an vupper portion of the car body.

13. A refrigerator car, comprising a car body, having a ceiling, side and end walls and floor,

and a cooling means therefor, including an air directing housing located adjacent the junction of an end wall and the ceiling, duct means extending from a lower part of the car to said air directing housing, a plurality'of generally smooth faced vacuum plates arranged in parallel in said housing and spacedapart to define relatively restricted intermediate spaces, means for supplying a refrigerant to said vacuum plates, and airI moving means adapted to move air upwardlythrough said duct means and outwardly through the spaces between said vacuum plates and into the interior of the car.

14. A refrigerator car comprising a car body having a ceiling, an enclosing device near one end of the car and inproximity tothe ceiling, open at the end nearest the center of the car, a plu- 45 rality of plates, each made up of two separate outwardly smooth sheets with a space between them into which cooling material is received, arranged in said enclosing device one above the other and separated by relatively restricted air 50 spaces, a source of refrigerant supply, a connection therefrom to said plates, a return connection from the plates back to the refrigerant supply, and means for moving air through the spaces between said plates'and outwardly into the car.

15. In combination, in a lcooling unit for refrigerator cars, an air directing housing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the-other, an air inlet duct associated with the inlet end of the housing, said duct itself having an inlet in 60 communication with the interior of the car, a pluralityol' vacuum plates in said'housing, each of said plates having a smooth plane unrestricted `iace at Aeach side thereof, said plates being arrangedfin parallel planes, and adjacent each.

other, with their ends generally aligned, and being separated by relatively restricted air spaces, a source of refrigerant supply, a connection therefrom to said plates, a return connection from the plates back to the refrigerant supply, and means for moving air throughl said duct, into said housing, through the spaces between said plates and outwardly into the car through thev outlet end of said'housing. v k HERMAN W. KLEIST. 

